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“One thing we definitely do differently, Kane is not allowed on the ground outside at all. If he goes outside, he has to be in a stroller or carried by someone,” she said.

Every day, the family hoses down the backyard to get rid of slug or snail entrails. Shoes are not allowed inside the house.

“I have to be very careful not putting him on the ground, or if I do put him on the ground, make sure he’s safe and clean,” said Tauanuu.

Eighty-two cases of rat lungworm disease have been reported to the state health department from 2007 to 2017.

Fifteen of those cases were pediatric.

“While the disease likely has the same or similar effect on the central nervous system, infants and children may not and often do not present the same way or with the same complaints as infected adults do,” public health information coordinator Anna Koethe wrote in an emailed response to KHON2. “They just may not beable to verbalize how they feel. For rat lungworm disease specifically, children may often exhibit behavioral changes, such as unusually bad temper, mood changes, or extreme tiredness.”

Tauanuu says doctors want to monitor Kane’s development for the next year.

At 16 months old, she says he’s developmentally at the one-year mark.

Kane barely talks and cannot walk on his own, but Tauanuu says her son is progressing.

“A side effect (to rat lungwormdisease) is (him being) paralyzed. He could have brain development problems. We’re really hoping that’s not the case with him,” said Tauanuu. “Judging by the way he is now, I think that’s not the case. I’m hoping not. For the most part, Kane is doing very well. He’s a very happy, loving, joyful baby.”

She adds that Kane has someone new to play with: a little brother named Kaulana.

“Kaulana is just a little over 2 weeks old,” she said.

Kane’s next checkup is on March 26.

The family will fly to Oahu so doctors at Kapiolani Medical Center can check on the toddler’s status.

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